Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) program in Ipoh, Malaysia

The aim of a BBS program is to increase workers’ awareness based on behavioral observations and improve in safety conditions. The program is also focused to provide workers with effective feedback and reinforcement.

In Ipoh cement plant the program is following these main steps:

• Create the BBS program team and train it, underline list of unsafe behaviors and determine measurement system and tools (e.g., check lists), choose target behaviors (e.g., from safety audits, near miss reports, toolbox talks and other forms that contain safety related information), identify Safety Champions.
• Perform behavioral observations, provide appropriate feedback on the behavior of the workers, utilize observing data and make necessary changes (e.g., monitoring, interventions approach, audit skill, reporting ability, etc.), remind workers to focus on the safety processes and not on the results.
• Cascade the BBS system to others via Safety Champions, sustain safety leadership, commitment and BBS principal within Safety Champions.

Currently, the program is at the end of the first phase. Some behavioral observations are started. The results are very satisfactory mainly because the program is integrating all leadership initiatives focused for now on department managers and supervisors.